The Common Cuttlefish is a cephalopod, related to octopuses and squid. It spends much of its life close to the seabed. Equipped with venomous saliva and rapid tentacle strikes, cuttlefish are highly effective predators. However, what truly sets cuttlefish apart is their extraordinary camouflage. Their skin contains millions of specialised pigment cells called chromatophores, able to create an astonishing range of colours, shades and patterns.
Cuttlefish use dynamic body patterns to ambush prey, communicate with rivals and potential mates, and confuse predators when threatened. If concealment fails, they can rapidly switch to bold warning displays or release a cloud of ink to create a distraction and escape. Their colour-changing abilities are widely regarded as some of the most sophisticated in the animal kingdom.
Each spring, adult cuttlefish migrate from deeper offshore waters into our coastal areas to breed. Females attach clusters of black eggs called Sea Grapes to seagrass, seaweeds, sponges and other structures on the seabed, creating nurseries for the next generation.
Cuttlefish are a very important link in marine food webs. While they are formidable hunters, they provide food for commercially important species such as Atlantic cod, as well as dolphins, sharks and seals.
Beyond their ecological importance, cuttlefish are also one of Sussex's most valuable seasonal seafood resources. Their spring migration into our coastal waters supports local fisheries, providing an important source of income for fishing communities along the Sussex coast. Ensuring these populations remain healthy is therefore vital not only for marine ecosystems but also for the people whose livelihoods depend on them.
By guest author Dr. Corina Ciocan, Principal lecturer in Marine Biology/Ecotoxicology, University of Brighton